- Winery: Knappstein
- Wine Region: Clare Valley, South Australia
- Variety: Malbec
- Vintage: 2025
- Price: $35
- Find it: From the winery direct
- Alcohol content: 14.5%
- You’ll like this if: You’re after a great food wine
- Body: Full
- Mouthfeel: Fresh
- Taste: Bold, Vibrant, Lush
- Flavours: Plum, Cherry, Spice
- Enjoy it with: Barbecue and friends
- Food pairings: Grilled meat, steak
Wine review: Knappstein Unearthed Malbec 2025
Recently, I tried the Knappstein Unearthed Malbec 2025, and it is a great food wine. Malbec might be synonymous with Argentina, but it is also grown in the Clare Valley, and Knappstein are shining a light on how good it can be! Part of Knappstein’s Unearthed range, which takes classic European varietals and gives them a Clare Valley twist, this Malbec is bold, generous, and utterly drinkable. If you’ve been curious about what Clare Valley can do beyond its famous Riesling, this wine is for you.
The colour alone is a statement: a deep, staining purple that hints at everything to come. The aromas follow through beautifully, with black cherry, red plum, and cassis leading the way, layered with intriguing savoury notes of dried spice and coffee that give it real depth and complexity. On the palate, the Knappstein Unearthed Malbec 2025 is full-bodied but not too heavy. There’s a youthful acidity that lifts the whole wine and gives it an unexpected lightness that makes it dangerously easy to drink. The tannins are firm but well-integrated, framing all that lush fruit perfectly. As for food, think big and bold: an Argentinian asado, a good steak, or anything involving grilled meat straight off the barbecue. It’s the kind of bottle that belongs on the table at a long dinner, and one you’ll absolutely want to open again.
About Knappstein
Knappstein Wines has been one of the Clare Valley’s most beloved wineries since 1974, and it’s not hard to see why. From day one, the philosophy has been simple: let the incredible fruit from their local vineyards do the talking. Their winemakers are passionate guardians of the vines, bringing real attention to detail and love for what they do to every bottle they produce. The result? A beautiful range of medium-bodied, fruit-driven wines that are as enjoyable to drink now as they are impressive with a little time in the cellar. It’s this dedication to quality and a deep respect for their individual vineyard sites that has earned Knappstein its reputation as one of Australia’s leading premium wine brands.
And the setting? Just as special as the wines themselves. Knappstein’s cellar door and winery are housed in the original Enterprise Brewery building, built all the way back in 1878 and a heritage-listed landmark right in the heart of Clare township. It’s a gorgeous slice of history that perfectly reflects everything Knappstein stands for: a deep connection to place, a respect for the past, and an excitement for what’s still to come.
You can learn more on their website.
Note: This wine was sent as a sample. I was under no obligation to post about it.